Family-to-Family Reauthorization Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 3714
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-20T13:49:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Family-to-Family Reauthorization Act of 2026 aims to extend federal funding for Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HICs). These centers provide support, education, and resources to families of children and youth with special health care needs, such as disabilities or chronic conditions, helping them navigate health care systems.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The bill is titled the "Family-to-Family Reauthorization Act of 2026."
- Funding Extension: Amends Section 501(c)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (which deals with maternal and child health programs) to allocate funding as follows:
- For the period from January 31, 2026, to September 30, 2026: A pro-rated (proportionate) share of the fiscal year 2025 appropriation.
- $6,000,000 annually for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2030.
- The bill builds on prior amendments, including one from Public Law 119-37 (2026), by adding new funding clauses to the existing law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, funding for F2F HICs was set to expire or was limited to earlier fiscal years (up to 2025, as amended).
- This bill extends and stabilizes funding through 2030 by inserting two new clauses (x and xi) into the appropriation schedule in the Social Security Act, replacing the end of prior clauses with a semicolon and adding the new provisions.
- No other substantive changes to program operations or eligibility are made; the focus is solely on financial continuation.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees maternal and child health programs, will receive assured funding to administer and grant support to F2F HICs, potentially reducing administrative disruptions from funding lapses.
- On Citizens: Families of children with special health care needs will benefit from continued access to free information, peer support, and navigation services, improving health outcomes and reducing barriers to care. This could affect an estimated hundreds of thousands of U.S. families annually.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill is focused on domestic health programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Families and Individuals: Primary beneficiaries are parents, caregivers, and children/youth with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or special health needs who rely on F2F HICs for guidance.
- F2F Health Information Centers: Nonprofit or community-based organizations operating these centers (typically one per state or territory) will have secure funding to maintain services.
- Government Entities: HHS and state health agencies that partner with or fund these centers.
- Healthcare Providers: Indirectly supported through better-informed families, potentially easing system-wide pressures.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: This is a routine reauthorization bill under the Social Security Act, ensuring compliance with federal budgeting processes without altering core program rules. It avoids new mandates or liabilities.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; it aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, to promote general welfare through health programs.
- Political: Introduced bipartisanship (by Senators Hassan, D-NH, and Scott, R-SC) on January 28, 2026, and referred to the Senate Finance Committee, signaling broad support for family health initiatives. It could set a precedent for future extensions of similar child health programs amid ongoing budget debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2026-01-28: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Family-to-Family Reauthorization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-28 — PDF (2 pages)